林窗对热带雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼幼苗生长的影响

在林窗中央、林窗边缘和林冠下3种不同光照梯度的森林生境中,研究了西双版纳季节雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼幼苗的早期 (种子萌发后10周内) 生长和定居后 (实生苗生长3个月以上) 的生长特点.结果表明: 绒毛番龙眼幼苗在早期生长阶段,林窗中央的株高、基径、总干质量、单株叶面积和相对生长率最大,分别为24.45 cm、3.17 mm、0.79 g、122.45 cm²和14.78×10^-3 g·d^-1.林冠下根冠比 (0.87) 高于林窗中央 (0.20) ,可能是光照和水分共同作用的结果.林窗中央较强的光照有利于定居后幼苗的生长,株高、基径、总干质量、单株叶面积、相对生长率和净同化率均在林窗中央最大,实验结束时分别达到31.48 cm、3.80 mm、2.22 g、174.52 cm²、2.29×10^-3 g·d^-1和2.54×10^-5 g·cm^-2·d^-1.幼苗死亡可能与水分胁迫密切相关,由水分胁迫引起的幼苗死亡率在林冠下最高 (26.88%),但林冠下由脊椎动物捕食引起的幼苗死亡率较低(2.93%),从而使林冠下幼苗的最终存活率最高 (70.19%).光照是影响绒毛番龙眼幼苗形态学调节的重要因素, 林窗中央不同生长阶段幼苗的比叶面积最低,但相对生长率和净同化率最大.水分胁迫和光照在幼苗定居后仍是影响幼苗生物量分配的重要因素, 林窗边缘幼苗的根冠比最高 (0.33).     

不同光照对望天树种子萌发和幼苗早期生长的影响

在不同光照梯度的人工遮荫和森林生境中,研究了西双版纳季节雨林标志树种望天树的种子萌发和幼苗早期生长特征.结果表明,裸地上的强光照和深度遮荫均不利于望天树种子的萌发,中等程度的遮荫有利于种子萌发.望天树种子萌发率在林窗中央最大,而且萌发迅速,林窗边缘和林下生境不利于种子萌发.幼苗株高、基径和单株叶面积等生长指标均在部分遮荫处理条件下最大;幼苗根冠比在裸地上最高,且随遮荫程度的增加而降低;幼苗比叶面积在一定光照强度范围内随遮荫程度的增加而增大,在3层遮荫最大.除幼苗根冠比以外的其它生长参数均在林窗中央最大.讨论了环境因子(主要是光照强度和光质)对望天树种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.     

光照对绒毛番龙眼种子萌发的影响

在实验室和自然条件下,研究了光照强度和光照时间对西双版纳季节雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼(Pometia tomentosa)种子萌发的影响.结果表明:不论是在持续光照还是在周期性光照条件下,3种不同强度光照处理的绒毛番龙眼种子萌发率都很高,均与对照(全黑暗)无显著差异;光照可加快种子萌发速度(降低萌发速率系数),提高萌发指数和幼苗活力指数.人工遮荫有利于绒毛番龙眼种子萌发率的提高,在100%自然全光照(natural sunlight, NS)下萌发率最低(27.8%),而在0.6% NS处理萌发率最高(78.9%);萌发速率系数在全光照下最大,随遮荫程度的增加而降低,萌发指数和幼苗活力指数则随遮荫程度的增加而增大.在遮荫萌发实验中,绒毛番龙眼种子的萌发可能主要受种子脱水敏感性的影响,即强光下剧烈的水分蒸发引起的暂时水分亏缺导致种子脱水死亡或萌发延迟;已经"萌发"的种子也可能因短期水分胁迫而不能生长到"第一对真叶出现"这一萌发标准就死亡,从而降低种子萌发率.在绒毛番龙眼种质资源保护工作中,既要注意避免强光下温度升高引起的种子过度脱水死亡,又要保证提供适宜光照条件以提高萌发质量和幼苗成活率.     

不同光强条件下柠条锦鸡儿的种子萌发和幼苗生长特征

在不同光照强度(自然全光照的55.4%、18.9%、5.5%、2.2%和0.5%)人工遮荫条件下,研究了柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana korshinskii)种子萌发和幼苗生长的特征。结果表明:柠条锦鸡儿种子的萌发率、萌发速率、萌发指数和萌发值均在18.9%光照处理最大,且随遮荫程度的增强逐渐减小;活力指数随着光照的减弱逐渐增大;尽管幼苗的株高随光照的减弱而增大,但基径、复叶数、主根长和总干质量均随着光照的减弱而持续减小或呈波动性减小趋势,表明遮荫不仅影响了幼苗基径的增大和复叶数的增加,而且限制了幼苗主根的伸长和干物质的积累;比叶面积随光照的减弱而增大,但根冠比随光照的减弱而减小。研究表明,柠条锦鸡儿种子的萌发对光强表现出一定程度的依赖,强光下的萌发抑制可能与强光引起的短期水分胁迫有关;光照对幼苗生长的促进作用反映了柠条锦鸡儿对自然分布区充足光照资源的适应,幼苗在不同光强下具有较高的形态学可塑性。     

光对热带雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼种子萌发及其幼苗早期建立的影响

绒毛番龙眼(Pometia tomentosa)为西双版纳热带季节雨林标志树种,被列为中国珍稀濒危植物。对其开展种子及幼苗生态学研究可为珍稀濒危树种的保护及当地森林恢复提供科学依据。试验采用遮荫试验和野外试验相结合的方法,研究光对绒毛番龙眼种子萌发及幼苗早期建立的影响。结果表明:在遮荫试验30%(林窗中心光)、10%(林窗边缘光)和3.5%(林下光)3个光处理及森林3种生境(林窗中心、林窗边缘和林下)条件下,种子萌发率差异无显著性差异,均达到95%以上,且平均萌发周期小于6 d。3个光处理下的幼苗生长、生物量分配模式及气体交换参数差异显著。30%光下绒毛番龙眼幼苗的根重比(RMR)和茎重比(SMR)最高,10%和3.5%光下幼苗的叶重比(LMR)最高,3.5%光下的叶面积比(LAR)显著高于30%光下。30%光下绒毛番龙眼幼苗的最大净光合速率(P_nmax)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)和光饱和点(I_sat)在3个光处理中均最大,光补偿点(I_comp)则无显著性差异。绒毛番龙眼幼苗具耐荫性,能够在低光环境下长期存活且能缓慢生长;同时具有适应林窗光环境生长的能力,如高的质量相对生长速率(RGR_M)和高度相对生长速率(RGR_H)。林窗的出现是绒毛番龙眼进行成功更新的必要条件,水分可能是限制其幼苗生境选择的另一环境因子。     

光照对两种热带雨林树种幼苗光合能力、热耗散和抗氧化系统的影响

 研究了生长于不同光照条件下（100%、25%和8%光强）热带雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼（Pometia tomentosa）和中层树种滇南风吹楠（Horsfieldia tetratepala）幼苗的光合能力、热耗散、活性氧和保护性酶的活性。结果表明,绒毛番龙眼的最大光合速率随着生长光强的增加而提高,而滇南风吹楠在全光条件下的最大光合速率反比25%光照条件下的低。全光条件下两个树种光系统II的最大光化学效率（Fv/Fm）都显著降低,表明发生了长期光抑制。当把生长于遮荫条件下的幼苗移到全光下,从凌晨到中午随着光强的增加光抑制加剧,日落时生长于8%光照条件下的绒毛番龙眼及生长于8%和25%光照条件下的滇南风吹楠的光抑制不能完全恢复。非光化学猝灭对光强的响应曲线表明,随着生长光强的增加滇南风吹楠的热耗散能力增强,而生长在全光和25%光照条件下的绒毛番龙眼的热耗散能力都比滇南风吹楠的弱。两个树种叶片中O-[]·2、H2O2含量、SOD和CAT活性均随着生长光强的增加而提高;在同一光照条件下,绒毛番龙眼叶片中O-[]·2、H2O2含量、SOD和CAT活性显著高于滇南风吹楠。上述结果表明,在光抑制条件下,冠层树种绒毛番龙眼较大程度通过提高保护性酶的活性来保护光合机构免受损伤,而中层树种滇南风吹楠却较大程度通过增强非光化学猝灭来耗散过量光能;滇南风吹楠对强光的适应性差。     

荒漠生境下柠条幼苗存活与生长对水分添加和沙埋的响应

为了解柠条幼苗生长与存活对荒漠生境下沙埋和水分添加的响应,在宁夏灵武白芨滩国家级自然保护区南部荒漠灌丛群落,通过水分添加和持续沙埋处理,研究了柠条幼苗的存活与生长对水分添加和沙埋的响应。结果表明:水分添加有利于柠条幼苗的存活与生长,幼苗最终留存率显著提高(P0.05),且幼苗株高、单株叶面积和总干质量显著增大(P0.05),侧根数、小叶数、相对生长率和净同化率也均有不同程度增大。沙埋抑制柠条幼苗的存活与生长,试验结束时,沙埋幼苗在水分添加条件下的最终留存率显著低于无沙埋幼苗(P0.05);除株高外,沙埋幼苗的基径、小叶数、单株叶面积、总干质量、相对生长率等均显著减小(P0.05),主根长、侧根数和净同化率也不同程度减小。沙埋幼苗的比叶面积、比根长和比枝长均显著大于无沙埋幼苗(P0.05),但前者的根冠比显著小于后者(P0.05);沙埋幼苗的比根长在水分添加条件下显著减小(P0.05),但不论是否沙埋,幼苗根冠比、比叶面积和比枝长在有无水分添加间均差异不显著。     

光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗生长特性和光合特征的影响

为了研究不同光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的生长过程,本文通过控制实验,模拟设计4种不同的光照条件:全光照(FS)、轻度遮荫(LS)、中度遮荫(MS)和重度遮荫(SS),对蒙古栎幼苗的形态特征、光合特性和生物量分配进行比较研究。结果表明:中度遮荫和重度遮荫条件下蒙古栎幼苗的比叶面积显著大于全光照和轻度遮荫,不同光照条件下苗高无显著差异,全光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的地径显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,同时,全光照条件下的主根长度和根径显著大于3种遮荫条件,而轻度遮荫和中度遮荫又显著大于重度遮荫;最大净光合速率表现为轻度遮荫全光照中度遮荫重度遮荫的趋势,表观量子效率在全光照与轻度遮荫时显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,暗呼吸速率无显著差异;全光照下单株总生物量和根系生物量最高,轻度遮荫和中度遮荫次之,重度遮荫最低;叶片生物量和茎生物量差异较小;不同器官生物量分配表现为根叶茎,并且根生物量所占比重在68%~76%之前;全光照、轻度遮荫和中度遮荫的根冠比显著高于重度遮荫。     

遮荫对江南油杉幼苗生长和叶绿素荧光参数的影响北大核心CSCD

为探究有利于江南油杉(Keteleeria fortunei var.cyclolepis)幼苗生长发育的最适光照条件,该研究以1.5年生江南油杉幼苗为研究对象,对其进行为期2年不同光照强度(即全光照和遮荫率40%、60%、80%)处理,分析其形态生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、生物量积累及分配等对不同光环境的适应机制。结果表明：(1)随遮荫程度的增强,江南油杉幼苗的地径生长量、叶片厚度逐渐减小,株高生长量、叶面积和比叶面积逐渐增大,叶片干质量呈先升后降的趋势;(2)遮荫造成叶片的叶绿素含量、初始荧光(Fo)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、电子传递速率(ETR)均呈现显著增加的趋势;(3)遮荫处理下幼苗的叶、茎、根生物量和总生物量总体表现出随着光照强度的降低而减小的变化趋势,幼苗根生物量比和根冠比均减小,而叶生物量比、茎生物量比以及光合组织与非光合组织生物量比均增大。研究发现,全光照下江南油杉幼苗生长发育受到了抑制,遮荫显著影响江南油杉苗期生长及叶绿素荧光特性,适度遮荫能提高幼苗叶片的光捕获能力、光能利用效率,增强幼苗光合能力,促进生长;江南油杉幼苗在遮荫率为60%的环境下受光胁迫较小,其生长、叶片表观特征、光合能力以及生物量积累与分配等表现最优。     

光照对辽东栎种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究了不同光照梯度[55.4%自然全光照(natural sunlight,NS)、18.9%NS、5.5%NS、2.2%NS、0.5%NS和0.3%NS]对辽东栎种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明:辽东栎种子的萌发率和萌发指数在55.4%NS处理达到最大,分别为72.5%和0.22,然后随着光照减弱而逐渐减小,在0.3%NS处理下最小,分别为42.5%和0.11;强光照对种子萌发进程有一定的延迟作用,萌发活力指数随着光照的减弱而增大(0.5%NS处理最大);强光下种子萌发的延迟可能是其对多种命运的权衡性选择.强光照有利于辽东栎幼苗基径和根系生长,以及幼苗干物质的积累,但株高最小(6.06 cm);不同光强处理的辽东栎幼苗具有较大的形态学可塑性,其幼苗阶段对光环境的适应性较强,0.5%NS处理的幼苗比叶面积、比枝长、比根长、叶片叶绿素b含量及叶绿素总量均最大,分别为142.57 cm2.g-1、156.86 cm.g-1、271.87 cm.g-1、0.07 g.cm-2和0.24 g.cm-2,55.4%NS处理下最小,分别为44.89 cm2.g-1、52.84 cm.g-1、101.98 cm.g-1、...     

不同光环境对海南龙血树幼苗表型可塑性及生存策略的影响

为了解光照对海南龙血树(Dracaena cambodiana)幼苗生长的影响,研究了不同光照环境下海南龙血树幼苗形态、生理特性和生物量分配的变化,并分析了其生态适应性。结果表明,海南龙血树幼苗的形态、生理和生物量分配指标在不同光照强度间存在显著差异,各指标的可塑性指数为0.08~0.86,其中根茎叶及总生物量的可塑性指数普遍较高(0.67~0.86),表明海南龙血树幼苗有较好的光照适应性,其策略主要是通过调整根茎叶生物量的分配来适应光照的变化。随着光照强度的降低,海南龙血树幼苗的比叶面积、叶根比呈现显著增大趋势,表明幼苗可通过增加单株叶面积比例,扩大光合作用面积,有效调节自身生物量配置。37.3%自然光照(L2)是海南龙血树幼苗生长的最佳光照强度。现存海南龙血树生境改变,生境缺少林荫以致光照强度过大,不利于幼苗根系生长,难以度过干旱季节,可能是海南龙血树自然更新失败的重要原因之一。     

Plasticity in seedling morphology,biomass allocation and physiology among ten temperate tree species in response to shade is related to shade tolerance and not leaf habit

• Mechanisms of shade tolerance in tree seedlings, and thus growth in shade, may differ by leaf habit and vary with ontogeny following seed germination. To examine early responses of seedlings to shade in relation to morphological, physiological and biomass allocation traits, we compared seedlings of 10 temperate species, varying in their leaf habit (broadleaved versus needle‐leaved) and observed tolerance to shade, when growing in two contrasting light treatments – open (about 20% of full sunlight) and shade (about 5% of full sunlight).
• We analyzed biomass allocation and its response to shade using allometric relationships. We also measured leaf gas exchange rates and leaf N in the two light treatments.
• Compared to the open treatment, shading significantly increased traits typically associated with high relative growth rate (RGR) – leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), and allocation of biomass into leaves, and reduced seedling mass and allocation to roots, and net assimilation rate (NAR). Interestingly, RGR was not affected by light treatment, likely because of morphological and physiological adjustments in shaded plants that offset reductions of in situ net assimilation of carbon in shade. Leaf area‐based rates of light‐saturated leaf gas exchange differed among species groups, but not between light treatments, as leaf N concentration increased in concert with increased SLA in shade.
• We found little evidence to support the hypothesis of a increased plasticity of broadleaved species compared to needle‐leaved conifers in response to shade. However, an expectation of higher plasticity in shade‐intolerant species than in shade‐tolerant ones, and in leaf and plant morphology than in biomass allocation was supported across species of contrasting leaf habit.

     

Traits of an invasive grass conferring an early growth advantage over native grasses

Aims Invasive species often have higher relative growth rates (RGR) than their native counterparts. Nutrient use efficiency, total leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA) are traits that may confer RGR differences between natives and invasives, but trait differences are less prominent when the invasive species belongs to the same plant functional type as the dominant native species. Here, we test if traits displayed soon after germination confer an early size advantage. Specifically, we predicted that invasive species seedlings grow faster than the natives because they lack trade-offs that more strongly constrain the growth of native species.Methods We quantified plant morphological and physiological traits and RGR during early seedling growth at high and low nutrient levels in three dominant perennial native C₄ grasses: Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass), Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem) and Andropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem); and a perennial C₄ exotic invasive grass, Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. (Johnsongrass).Important findings After 2 weeks of growth, Johnsongrass seedlings had greater biomass, SLA and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, but lower leaf N concentrations (% leaf N) and root:shoot ratio than natives. As growth continued, Johnsongrass more quickly produced larger and thicker leaves than the natives, which dampened the growth advantage past the first 2 to 3 weeks of growth. Investment in carbon gain appears to be the best explanation for the early growth advantage of Johnsongrass. In natives, growth was constrained by an apparent trade-off between allocation to root biomass, which reduced SLA, and production of leaves with high N content, which increased carbon gain. In Johnsongrass, root:shoot ratio did not interact with other traits, and % leaf N was decoupled from RGR as a result of a trade-off between the positive indirect association of % leaf N with RGR and the negative direct association of % leaf N with RGR.     

Relative importance of photosynthetic traits and allocation patterns as correlates of seedling shade tolerance of 13 tropical trees

Among 13 tropical tree species on Barro Colorado Island, species with high seedling mortality rates during the first year in shade had higher reltive growth rates (RGR) from germination to 2 months in both sun (23% full sun) and shade [2%, with and without lowered red: far red (R:FR) ratio] than shade tolerant species. Species with higher RGR in sun also had higher RGR in shade. These interspecific trends could be explained by differences in morphological traits and allocation paterns among species. Within each light regime, seedlings of shade-intolerant species had lower root: shoot ratios, higher leaf mass per unit area, and higher leaf area ratios (LAR) than shade tolerant species. In contrast, leaf gas exchange characteristics, or acclimation potential in these traits, had no relationship with seedling mortality rates in shade. In both shade tolerant and intolerant species, light saturated photosynthesis rates, dark respiration, and light compensation points were higher for sungrown seedlings than for shade-grown seedlings. Differences in R:FR ratio in shade did not affect gas exchange, allocation patterns, or growth rates of any species. Survival of young tree seedlings in shade did not depend on higher net photosynthesis or biomass accumulation rates in shade. Rather, species with higher RGR died faster in shade than species with lower RGR. This trend could be explained if survival depends on morphological characteristics likely to enhance defense against herbivores and pathogens, such as dense and tough leaves, a well-established root system, and high wood density. High construction costs for these traits, and low LAR as a consequence of these traits, should result in lower rates of whole-plant carbon gain and RGR for shade tolerant species than shade-intolerant species in shade as well as in sun.     

不同光环境对麻栎和刺槐幼苗生长和光合特征的影响

通过搭建遮阳棚设置3个光照强度,模拟森林幼苗生长的林缘、林窗和林下光环境,研究麻栎和刺槐幼苗形态结构、光合特性、生物量积累及其分配对不同光照强度的响应。结果表明,极度弱光环境限制了幼苗的株高、基径、总叶面积、冠面积、叶面积指数和总叶数等形态指标的增长,与全光环境相比,适度遮荫有利于幼苗的形态生长,光照对麻栎形态的异速生长曲线影响较小,刺槐较麻栎的曲线变化更明显一些,弱光降低了异速生长指数。随遮荫程度的增加,麻栎的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度逐渐降低,刺槐的净光合速率则在适度遮荫下最大,两者的光能利用效率均显著增大,水分利用效率先升后降。随光照强度的减弱,麻栎各器官的生物量积累降低,叶面积比率的增加和根冠比的减少有利于增加光能的捕获,而刺槐的生物量积累和分配则在适度遮荫下达到最优;各叶绿素含量均显著上升,而叶绿素a/b则逐渐下降。麻栎和刺槐显示出不同的生存策略和光利用策略,在一定程度上可以揭示它们在阔叶林群落中不同的演替地位。     

光照对鄂东南2种落叶阔叶树种幼苗生长、光合特性和生物量分配的影响

通过设置4个光照梯度(25%、12%、6%和3%自然光)模拟鄂东南低山丘陵地区落叶阔叶林林下的光环境,研究了2种耐荫性不同的树种幼苗--麻栎(Quercus acutissima)和化香(Platycarya strobilacea)不同光强下的存活率、光合特性、生长和生物量分配,探讨了低光环境中耐荫性不同的树种幼苗维持自身碳平衡的机制和权衡"存活-生长"选择的生活史策略。结果表明:(1)低光下的2个树种幼苗的生长、光合特性和生物量分配具有显著性差异。(2)各个光照梯度下麻栎幼苗都生长良好,存活率保持在35%以上,而化香幼苗遭遇高的死亡率,80d后3%和6%自然光下的幼苗全部死亡;低光环境中麻栎幼苗比化香幼苗具有更大的表观光量子(AQY)和最大净光合效率(Pmax),更低的光补偿点(LCP)和暗呼吸效率(Rd),即耐荫性较强的麻栎幼苗比耐荫性较弱的化香幼苗具有更高的低光碳同化率和碳捕获能力。(3)2个树种幼苗的成活率与RGR呈负相关关系,各个光照梯度下耐荫性较弱的化香幼苗的相对生长率(RGR)显著高于耐荫性较强的麻栎幼苗,而两个树种幼苗的净同化率(NAR)无明显差异。相对于麻栎幼苗较高的根生物量比(RMR),化香幼苗将更多的生物量分配给叶部,因而具有较高的叶生物量比(LMR)、叶面积比(LAR)和比叶面积(SLA)。不同耐荫性的幼苗生长及生物量分配方式的差异是植物"存活-生长"权衡后的结果,耐荫性弱的化香幼苗具有较高的生长潜力和较弱的自我保护能力,而耐荫性强的麻栎幼苗具有更高的低光碳储量,能够维持更好的低光碳平衡,具有竞争优势。     

Growth of tree seedlings in a tropical dry forest in relation to soil moisture and leaf traits

"AimsThe growth of plant species in tropical dry forest (TDF) is expected to be largely governed by the availability of soil moisture. In this study we attempt to identify mechanisms by which seedlings of dry tropical trees cope with water stress by adjusting their leaf characteristics to water availability and micro environments, and address following questions: How are leaf traits and relative growth rate (RGR) of the dominant seedling species of TDF affected by seasonal changes in soil moisture content (SMC)? What is the relationship of functional traits with each other? Can leaf traits singly or in combination predict the growth rate of seedling species of TDF? The study was conducted in situ on four sites (viz., Hathinala, Gaighat, Harnakachar and Ranitali, listed in order of decreasing SMC) within the tropical dry deciduous forest in northern India. Methods Five leaf traits viz., specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), concentrations of leaf nitrogen (leaf N), phosphorus (leaf P) and chlorophyll (Chl) and two physiological processes, viz., stomatal conductance (Gs net) and photosynthetic rate (A net), and RGR, of four dominant tree seedling species of a TDF (viz., Buchanania lanzan, Diospyros melanoxylon, Shorea robusta and Terminalia tomentosa) on four sites were analysed for species, site and season effects over a 2-year period. Step-wise multiple regression was performed to predict RGR from mean values of SMC, leaf traits and physiological processes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to observe the extent of intra- vs. inter-specific variability in the leaf traits and physiological rates.Important findings All the traits and physiological rates were interrelated and showed significant positive relationship with RGR except for the correlation of LDMC with RGR which was not significant. Further, relationships of SMC with all leaf traits, physiological rates and RGR were significant, except for that between SMC and SLA for B. lanzan and D. melanoxylon. The slope of seedling trait:SMC relationship, a measure of phenotypic plasticity in response to soil moisture gradient, varied among species. Among the four species, T. tomentosa was the most plastic and S. robusta the least. In conclusion, leaf traits and physiological processes were strongly related to soil water availability on the one hand and seedling growth on the other. Gs net is the most important variable which accounted for the greatest amount of variability (62%) in RGR, emphasizing the role of stomatal conductance in shaping growth patterns across spatial and temporal gradients of soil water availability. Gs net and SMC together explained 64% variability in RGR, indicating that other traits/factors, not studied by us are also important in modulating the growth of tropical tree seedlings.     

Effects of exogenously applied growth regulators on shoot growth of inbred lines of Plantago major differing in relative growth rate: differential response to gibberellic acid and (2-chloroethyl)-trimethyl-ammonium chloride

The possibility of modulating shoot growth charaeteristics of seedlings of two inbred lines of Plantago major L., differing in relative growth rate (RGR), by exogenously applied 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), (gibberellic acid (GA₃) and (2-chloroethyl)-trimethyl-ammonium chloride (CCC) was investigated. BA completely inhibited growth of the shoot at a concentration of 1 m M , while lower concentrations had no effect. NAA reduced growth of the shoot at 10 ü M , while 1 m M completely inhibited growth. Addition of 10 μ M GA₃ or higher stimulated shoot fresh weight up to 20% and leaf area up to 30% for the slow growing inbred line (W9), but less for the fast growing line (A4). Application of 1 m M CCC, an inhibitor of gibberellin metabolism, reduced growth of both inbred lines, but to a larger extent in the fast growing seedlings.
The lower shoot growth of W9 was associated with a lower specific leaf area (SLA) and a higher dry matter percentage of the shoot, as compared with A4. NAA reduced growth by reducing SLA and increasing leaf thickness, but the percentage dry matter of the leaves was unaffected. Stimulation of the shoot growth by GA₃ application was associated with higher SLA and lower dry matter percentage. Application of CCC had opposite effects on SLA and dry matter percentage as compared with GA₃. GA seems to be involved in the regulation of at least part of the genetic difference in RGR in Plantago major .